Five years ago,  a few dedicated Rotarians got together to form the first community-based ElderAct Club in the world-- the Elderact Club of Marblehead & Swampscott.  This year's annual report shows that the combined efforts of the 21 member club provided over 4,434 hours of service! 

 
ElderAct meets twice a month, to track their progress, share new ideas, monitor their budget.  International, district and local efforts include:  
  • Handmade ditty bags for women in Dominican Republic and Honduras to hold vital medical and dental equipment.  
  • Knit hats for US soldiers to wear under their helmets.
  • Weekly singing to nursing home residents living with dementia.
  • Organic farming with vegetable distribution to low income elderly.  
  • Preparing and serving monthly dinner at a soup kitchen in Salem.  
  • Applying lockboxes on homes of elderly.  
  • Spreading bagels for High School Seniors during exams.  
  • Reading to preschoolers.  
  • Recycle glasses, cell phones, ink cartridges, and hearing aids.  
  • Making friendly calls to Elderly.
  • Sewing masks for health care workers.
The extensive list goes on and on...  
 
This ElderAct is sponsored and financially supported by both the Marblehead Harbor and Swampscott Rotary Clubs for approximately $3000 each year.  This year they also had a fundraiser for which they wrote, published and sold a cookbook of local recipes raising over $1200 to help cover the cost of their projects.  Service above self is so clearly evident in everything these ElderActors do.  And they are always reaching out to learn of another need they can meet. 
 
What an inspiration!
 
(note: both photos were taken prior to the Covid-19 situation)